libdemchild, aged 15

Libdem Child's (mainly) weekly thoughts

You're probably wondering whether this is really a teenager's blog or not. Well it is. I believe in the Liberal principles of fairness, equality and community. I may only be fourteen but I can hold a good debate on politics. Honest, I can.

Saturday, 31 January 2015

Did you watch Nick Clegg on the 'Last Leg' Channel 4? He was at his best. He came off as very authentic which is exactly what he needed to boost his image. Nick Clegg is still being praised on twitter for his performance. I cannot see either David Cameron or Muddleband, sorry, Miliband following in Nick's footsteps. Here is a tweet from a convinced member of the public who is going to vote for our party.

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

In 2010, before the election, Nick Clegg warned of 'Greek-style' strife on the streets of Britain if any Government pushed through policies that people did not vote for. Remember? Let's face it, nobody voted for 'coalition' policies in the end did they? But so it came to pass that UK austerity measures were passed and, suddenly, to question these was to be childish and unreasonable. Austerity politics was the grown up way of doing politics. TINA and all that. Now's there's another name in the political circles and it's Syriza.

I read this article today in Libdemvoice and pondered upon how far Lib Dems have come since 2010. With all respect to Joe Otten, the PPC for Sheffield Central, I really hope his attitude does not sum up the next 100 days of Lib Dem electioneering because it misses a huge point about the hardships that people have suffered under austerity cuts. I think this is where Syriza is relevant. Syriza was voted by people who used words like 'hopeful', 'a society that feels a little bit fairer' and 'give us the sense that they care' and 'we feel unprotected right now'. Syriza recognised that there was a void of humanity in politics and dares to challenge the forces that foisted the so called grown up politics of cuts.

This is where I think Lib Dems can learn from them. As the coalition draws to an end it is crucial to recognise that no matter how many times we tell people that Lib Dems prevented the Tories from veering too far to the right many won't believe it because many have suffered as a result of the Neoliberal hegemony that our party bought into in coalition. Sometimes I hear a Lib Dem speak and I wonder why he/she didn't join the Tory party. Talking about being King Makers again just makes Lib Dems sound like a party that will go into coalition with anyone for the sake of power. What happened to our liberal values? I think Nick Clegg is great but why is the party being positioned just as emergency air bags to stop the Tory party or Labour party crashing? I don't get it.

Syriza is full of risk-takers who have tapped into people's feelings. Podemos could be the next victor in Spain. Politics has just moved onto a whole new level and Lib Dems cannot be left behind. I am trying to say that we need to offer real hope to young people, sick people, disabled people, impoverished people, the unemployed and the lowly paid.

Wednesday, 31 December 2014

The voice of young people has been massively important in 2014 and as the year draws to a close it is important to reflect on the issues that have shaped this year and the role that young people have played in them.

Scottish referendum
The Scottish referendum was a monumental issue and not only because of the decision that Scotland had to make but also because 16 year olds were permitted to vote in the referendum. Many feared that this would reduce voter turnout and that teenagers would be disinterested in the cause. However, this was not the case as many young people appeared on the news speaking passionately about their views. Discussions even took place where thousands of teenagers gathered to quiz politicians. The voter turnout was most certainly not reduced by allowing teenagers to vote and it was in fact incredibly high at 84.59%. This referendum was a great platform for young people to showcase their intelligence and interest in the political world and prove that teenagers are not lazy and disinterested.

Ferguson
After 18 year old Mike Brown was killed by officer Darren Wilson in an unjust and racist situation thousands of people took to the streets to protest the fact that Darren Wilson did not face an indictment, many of these protesters were teenagers or young people. On social media hoards of young people were quick to recognize the racist nature of this case and the derogatory way that the media was presenting black youths. On a social networking site called tumblr many posts were made about the protests in Ferguson and raised awareness about police brutality towards black people in America. Petitions were passed around and money was raised for food drives so the protesters so that they could continue with their efforts. A young black man called Rasheen Lamont Aldridge became the youngest member of Ferguson's commission and he spoke out about the injustices of Ferguson. He is one of many examples of brilliant young people who are taking a stand against social injustices.

Student Protests
Students have been fighting for their future this year as they protested the high cost of tuition fees in the UK. Young people in the UK already face high numbers of youth unemployment and are now also facing around £50,000 worth of debt after leaving education. The youth have shown their anger at the situation by protesting on the streets of London in order to try and convince politicians to reduce the fees. In Hong Kong thousands of of young protesters also took to the streets and fought for their future against the repressive Chinese regime.

Transgender rights
The most recent case of young people taking a stand for something they believe in is the case of Leelah Alcorn. Leelah was a 17 year old transgender girl who committed suicide after her parents refused to allow her to transition and would not recognize her chosen gender. Leelah left a suicide note detailing the reasons for her death and wished that society would treat transgender people in the right way. Young people all over social media mourned her death and raised awareness for transgender issues. A blog on tumblr was set up by a young person in Leelah's memory which is giving away clothes, binders, make up and accessories to transgender women who don't have access to or can't afford these items. The amount of action that has been taken to help the transgender community is very impressive and shows the compassion and ability of young people

Thursday, 18 December 2014

I attended Jeremy Thorpe's funeral yesterday and was moved by the eulogy given by Steven Atack, a longstanding good friend to Mr Thorpe. Mr Atack has kindly given me permission to publish it.

Jeremy Thorpe Eulogy – by Steven Atack

I have been asked by
Jeremy’s son Rupert, Jeremy’s son to say a few words about the man I have known
for forty years first as a political colleague and then as a dear and cherished
friend.

My journey on the Thorpe
Express, for that is what life with Jeremy was like, began when I was elected
National Chairman of his rebellious Young Liberal Movement – as you can see
that was some considerable time ago!

Ushered into his office
by his loyal Secretary, Judy Young, Jeremy stood up, shook my hand warmly and
told me to sit on the day couch he used for his naps. He swivelled round, pen
and pad in hand, looked over the spectacles and said “Now Steve, when did your
problems first begin??”

And so, charged with his
wit and Evangelical zeal for the Liberal cause, away we sped.

For myself, and so many
others, Jeremy was a champagne politician, putting the fizz back into the dull
grey political era of Harold Wilson and the even greyer period of Ted Heath
whom Jeremy once described as “being akin to a large plum pudding around which
no one knew how to light the brandy”!
These pearls of wit were a cardinal element of Jeremy's unique style.

Indeed his leadership
began with a distinctly champagne theme when the Returning Officer could not
find anything to put the ballot papers in for the election for the Liberal
Leadership. A champagne bucket was
quickly summoned for the purpose and Jeremy was duly elected.

Jeremy’s campaigning
skills were unparalleled and I believe, remain unrivalled. Whether he was
leaping with Olympian style over a street barrier or taking over the village
post office in North Devon for a week, because the Postmaster hadn’t had a
holiday in years, Jeremy knew how to hit the spot.

And the capacity of his
memory was Herculean. I remember once
when he was campaigning he met a lady he didn’t know very well, together with
her young daughter. Out it tumbled: “She
did very well in Geography, didn’t she Mrs Dawes”. Jeremy had not only now remembered who the
lady was, but had earlier been studying the A level results of children in
Barnstaple in the local newspaper and remembered those as well!

In a party down to but
six Members of Parliament Jeremy’s optimism was contagious. One of his first slogans, a pun on the phrase
“Where there’s life there’s hope”, he turned into “Where there’s life there’s
Thorpe”. And life indeed there was – in spades.

Throughout his political
carrier Jeremy worked tirelessly to combat poverty and inequality at home and
overseas. His opposition to
discrimination in all it's forms - racial, religious or of sexual minorities,
was relentless and he was never fearful of tackling controversial issues head
on.

But beyond his passionate
commitment to Liberal politics, Jeremy had a happy and deeply loving family
life – first in his idyllic marriage with Rupert’s dear mother Caroline, cut
short so tragically by her death in a road accident.

Jeremy always remembered
Caroline, dedicating a monument to her in his beloved North Devon which he
often visited and also a lasting and living memorial in the shape of the
Caroline Thorpe Children's Ward in the North Devon Hospital.

And then his second
wonderful marriage which was to last over forty years with his wife
Marion.

Jeremy and Marion shared
a profound loyalty to one another which endured in the face of all adversity
and “in sickness and in health”, as Jeremy valiantly faced down the torment of
Parkinson’s Disease for over thirty years.

With Marion, Jeremy also
shared his great love of music, continuing that passion from his marriage with
Caroline.

Both were highly gifted
musicians; Marion being a world-renowned concert pianist and he a talented
violinist. They counted Benjamin
Britten, Yehudi Menuhin and Peter Pears as dear friends. Indeed Yehudi Menuhin played the violin here
in this church at Caroline’s funeral over forty years ago, when a piece
especially composed by Ben Britten was also aired.

I think though even
Jeremy drew the line when handed a guitar to play by the late Jimmi Hendrix – a
close run thing though!

Jeremy was a devoted
father to Rupert, whom he adored. He
took particular pride in Rupert’s talent as an internationally respected
photographer, in his grandson, Quinn and Rupert’s wife Michelle..

He was also a central
part of Marion’s family life with her children, David, James and Jeremy and
their own children.

Jeremy Thorpe’s life had
a richness beyond the difficult days we all know he had to face, and it was
with his family that it’s richness was at its zenith, some of the happiest of
times being spent with them at his beloved cottage in North Devon.

That family life was
profoundly important to him and remained so until his final days, cared for by
Rupert, his family and close friends - and a wonderful team of compassionate
carers, Naz, Eleanor and Sajil, who are with us today.

In my later visits to an
ailing Jeremy he developed a form of communication using hand signals, as his
voice was barely audible; the voice, which had held audiences across the Realm
in rapture and enthrallment, now almost silent.

I read political pieces
to him and one of the last was this, a definition of the Liberalism he held to
all his days and I shared in my youth. It is taken from the Annual Report of
the Dewsbury Liberal Association in 1923 as they awaited the election of that
year. The words could have been from
Jeremy himself…..

“We cannot afford to be
idle.

An election may come at
any time. Liberalism is not dead. It has a message for today. It believes in
Democracy. It believes in a Government of aristocracy, not of birth, of wealth,
or of landed or other possessions, but an Aristocracy of intelligence, of
energy, of character.

Liberalism is not a
compromise between two extremes of opinion. It is a solution of its own for the
ills of humanity. It is not a half way
house between Conservatism and Socialism.

It is not a house at
all. It is a broad road of travel along
which may walk honest pilgrims through the confusion of life, not without
glimpses, at the end, of the walls and towers of the Celestial City”

I asked him if this was
what it was all about and as Jeremy’s eyes moistened, up went the two thumbs,
so reminiscent of one of his favourite campaigning postures.

Well my dear Jeremy, it
is my hope and my prayer that now, at the end of your journey down your Liberal
road, you can see, from a splendid view, those walls and towers of the
Celestial City.

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Extract taken below from an interview by Robert Peston, BBC Economics Editor, with Danny Alexander on the eve of the Autumn Statement announcement. I have chosen this particular bit because I truly don't know how the Lib Dems will win votes on the back of a low wage recovery come the election. It confuses me that a low wage recovery still equals growth? Somehow I think that people on zero hour contracts and who are scraping a living will take little heart from the comparisons that politicians make at macro level about growth comparisons. When you cannot afford to heat your home or pay your bills and you are still working long hours you cannot rely on false statements about the economy growing when what you experience is far from prosperity.

DA: Well, what we have seen in our economy this year is strong economic growth but we haven't seen tax receipts - particularly income tax receipts - grow as strongly as was forecast. We are seeing a lot more people entering the labour market, a lot of young people entering the labour market, who inevitably start on lower wages… That means income tax receipts are weaker.

RP: But isn't it an indictment of your economic policy that this is such a low-wage recovery?

DA: Hold on a second, our policy has led Britain, which was one of countries hardest hit by the financial crisis, to have the strongest recovery in the European Union, the best recovery in the G7, the best job creation in Europe, more jobs created in the United Kingdom than in the whole of the rest of the European Union combined. So yes, of course we need to see wages improve over the years to come, it is very very important to make sure the benefits of this recovery are shared. But I'd much rather be in the position of the United Kingdom than in the position of the many other European countries right now.

Saturday, 15 November 2014

Ciaron O'Reilly very kindly spoke at a political session I hosted in 2013 on Bradley/Chelsea Manning

Ciaron O'Reilly, a non-violent Catholic pacifist has been arrested in Brisbane, Australia, where the G20 is taking place. The offence against Ciaron? It is for being a 'prohibited person'. What on earth does a 'prohibited person' mean? Some things just stop you in your tracks and this one did it for me. I have only ever seen the word 'prohibited' being used at the airport or certain public places where people are prohibited from carrying dangerous things such as sharp metal objects or glass. See example below. But what does a 'prohibited person' do or not do to become prohibited?

A quick Google search throws up this term in connection with firearms. Ciaron was not carrying firearms. A non-violent Pacifist would not be carrying arms now would he? It turns out that even Ciaron does not know what he is being charged with in connection with his arrest but it would not be far off the mark to guess that it is because he wanted to confront Barack Obama over Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. America being America cannot tolerate any dissent over who it calls a 'traitor'. While I don't like Julian Assange myself I see no reason why someone like Ciaron cannot be free to heckle Obama. Isn't America meant to be a great Democracy? Chelsea, formerly Bradley, Manning alerted the world to some truly horrific atrocities being committed by their soldiers in Iraq. Yet, it is him who is in prison while those soldiers are free.

Democracy is increasingly becoming an ideological thought that only seems to exist in people's heads and recedes further and further away from the reality of this world which is being overtaken by heavy handed behaviour. Free Ciaron O'Reilly.

Wednesday, 15 October 2014

Another day, another Tory MP telling ordinary folk what they think of them. This time it is Lord Freud shooting his mouth off about disabled people. Lord Freud claims to, "care passionately about disabled people" . So passionate is Lord Freud that he sees fit to threat disabled people as inferior beings. He has branded disabled people as being unworthy of even the minimum wage! When you consider how people on the minimum wage are struggling to survive this puts Lord Freud's thoughts into context. Also, when the Adam Smith institute defends someone who spouts right wing views then you really know that something is wrong. Disabled people already struggle day in day out because of the Government's welfare reforms, unfair sanctions and constant visits to the job center but what would Lord Freud who used to be a banker know. In fact, his record to date of being a welfare minister was a precursor to today's comment. The following is a record of Lord Freud's disgraceful record. "In 2013 Work Capability Assessments for disabled welfare claimants were described by Peter Beresford OBE, Professor of Social Policy at Brunel University, as "reminiscent of the medical tribunals that returned shell shocked and badly wounded soldiers to duty in the first world war or the 'KV-machine', the medical commission the Nazis used in the second world war to play down wounds so that soldiers could be reclassified 'fit for the Eastern front''."In October 2010 a number of church groups and organisations complained to the Prime Minister David Cameron about Freud and chancellor George Osborne's "misrepresentation" and "exaggeration" of fraud in welfare claims that had the effect of stigmatising the poorest and most vulnerable in society""In July 2013 Freud was criticised in The Guardian for his "withered meanness" that sought to explain the dramatic increase of food banks in the United Kingdom as being due to people taking goods that were available for free rather than anything to do with his welfare reforms."So what is he worth? Nothing to those who are suffering as a result of his policies.